Bridge over the Bilderdijkgracht to be named after Ritsaert ten Cate

[Translate to English:] foto: Reyn van Koolwijk

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The bridge on the De Clerqstraat over the Bilderdijkgracht will be officially renamed the Ritsaert ten Catebrug. The bridge is located next to the house boat where theatre maker Ritsaert ten Cate spent the final years of his life and also near his last studio. The naming will take place on Wednesday 5 September, exactly 10 years after his death.

Ritsaert ten Cate, grandson of the famous Amsterdam director/actor Eduard Verkade, was a  mainstay of theatrical life in Amsterdam. In 1972 he moved his Mickery theater from Loenersloot to the Rozengrachttheater in Amsterdam where it operated until 1991. Many prominent foreign theatre makers like Robert Wilson and the Wooster Group came to Amsterdam specially to stage works there.

In 1993 he founded the post-academic study programme DasArts, now known as DAS Theatre, a  master study programme for Theatre, affiliated with the Academy of Theatre and Dance.

In her proposal to the Amsterdam City Council to rename the bridge as tribute to the theatre maker, Annemieke Gerritsma wrote: Ten Cate ‘strongly influenced the cultural climate of the city and a new generation of theatre makers and scenographers’, he played a connecting role in introducing innovative forms of theatre, use of new media – quite unusual at the time – and establishing methods of collaboration at a national and international level.’

Ten Cate’s special contribution to theatre in Amsterdam has already been acknowledged. He was made a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau and received the Sphinx Cultuurprijs in 1996. In 2000 ten Cate was awarded the Frans Banninck Cocq medal. The request to name a bridge in his honour was supported by Pierre Audi, Ivo van Hove, Evelyne Merkx, Sijbolt Noorda, Suzanne Oxenaar, Gerardjan Rijnders, Jan Zoet and Loek Zonneveld.  
 
You are cordially invited to attend on Wednesday 5 September at 18:00 hrs.

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